Washing machine



April zo, 1926; 1,581,905

CA.XARDELL TAL WASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 24- 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 z5 sanguin nu e /l u Q o D A Z 1 -j fr l A a di 2z L ff 10 /02 7l 8 /i/' 5+ f g +5 N z8 3 J4' TL ATToRN YS'.

April 2o, 192s; l;5s1,9o5

n c.A.xARDELL ErAL WASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 24, 1924 2 sheets-sheet 2 o 0 0 Cobea: 5

a o 3l f5 f@ a Z4 f4 Z3 MQW ATTORNEY 'S Patented Apr.V 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. XARDELL AND MORRIS F. JONES, 0F UTICA, NEWYORK, ASSIGNORS 'IPO THE XARDELL CORPORATION, OF U'IICA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 0F NEW Yonx.

WASHING MACHINE.

Applieationled November 24, 1924. Serial' No. 751,768.

To all whom z't may concern.'

Be it known that We, CHARLES A. XAR- DELL, a citizen of the United States, residing in Utica, county of Oneida, and State of New York, and MORRIS F. JONES, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Utica, county of Oneida, and State of New York, have invented new and useful `Improvements in Washing Machines,y of which the' followingis av specification.

This invention relates to washing machines. In such machines the agitation of the clothes produces a repeated shock or blow upon the machine This is especially true in that type of washing machine in which the clothes-0r other material being washed is subjected to a tumbling action, being repeatedly lifted from the washing or cleanslng liquid and allowed to tumble or drop back into the same. As the wet clothes are of consider-able weight, the Shocky or blow is considerable. In prior machines, this shock or blow produces a continual vibration or .movement of the machine and a pounding action upon the floor upon which the machine is supported. A similar objection exists to a certain degree in most of the usual 4types of washing machines as a resultof the agitation of the material being washed.

This invention also relates to washing machines which are provided with centrifugal extractors or wringers. In that type of machine, avery violent vibration of the machine occurs when the extractor basket which supports the material being treated vis even slightly unbalanced, as by the uneven distribution of the loads'which are placed in the basket, the usual speed of rotation of the basket during the wrin ing or extracting operation being very hig for example 600 revolutions per minute or more. The vibration of the extractor basket is communicated to the body of the machine; and in priorl machines of this type the vibration tends to cause the machine to move violently around the floor.4 .Where the machines are designed for washing and' centrifugal wringing or drying, they have the objectionable pounding and vibratory action incidental to both of these operations.

This invention has for its princi al object to overcome the diliiculties or obJections referredto. Other objects, features and advantages will appear more fully in the following detailed specification and appended claims.

This application is a continuation in part of an application Ser. No. 675,909, filed N0- Vember 20, 1923. Y'

The accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification illustrate a machine containing one embodiment of my invcntion.

ln the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the machine showing the basket for supporting` the clothes or other material in position for the washing operation.

Fig. 2 is a like view showing the basket in posstion for the wringing operation.

Fig. 3 is a view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3n is a plan view of a portion of the driving mechanism. y

.Referring to the drawings, a tank or container 1 adapted to hold water or other cleansing liquid is provided with an upper washing and wringing chamber 2 in which the perforated basket 3 is supported. The tank 1 has a removable cover 1. The tank or container 1 thus acts as a casing for the basket 3. The chamber 2 has a liquid-tight bottom 4 beneath which is a chamber 5 containing the driving` mechanismfor the central operating shaft 6. The bottom 7 of the chamber 5 is secured to a suitable stabilizing support which will be described more fully hereinafter.

.standard or pedestal 9 in which the shaft 6 has a suitable bearing, said shaft being provided below the bottom 4 with a pulley 10 which may be -driven from any suitable drivingfmeans, 'such as electric motor 10', by the belt l1. This belt may be maintained at a suitable tension by the belt tightener 13 pivoted at '13 and held yieldingly in engagement with the belt 11 by spring 132. The motor shaft may be provided with a suitable clutch 102, such, for example, as shown in application for Letters Patent of the United States of Charles A. Xardell, Ser. No. 735,111, vfiled Aug. 30th, 1924, to cause the washing mechanism to be automatically clutched' to themotor shaft when the latter' `has attained a desired speed. The vertically arranged shaft of the driving motor (-10), extends upwardly through an op'ening (7') in the bottom wall (7) of the container (1). This opening is sufficiently large to permit tilting movement of the container (1) relative to the base or support in all directions, without interference from the shaft of the driving motor. A liquid-tight joint is formed between the bottom of the hollow standard or pedestal 9 and the bottom 4. To this end a gasket 12 of leather, rubber or other suitable material may be secured between the said standard and bottom.

To permit the shaft- 6 to be detachably connected with the basket 3, the said shaft is provided at its upper end with a socket 14 of irregular cross-section, for example, hexagonal, and the lower end 'ofthe shaft 15 secured to the bottom of the basketcoaxially therewith is of a corresponding irregular cross-section and adapted to lit into said socket. The shaft 15 is fitted to slide in a t-runnion sleeve 16 for al purpose which will be hereinafter described. f

The shaft 6 when connected with the shaft 15 through the socket 14 serves as a means for rotating the basket at a high speedy for the wringing operation.

To provide means for rotating the basket at a slower speed during the washing op? eration, the shaft 6 has secured thereto a worm 17 meshing with the worm wheel 18 on a horizontal shaft 19 journaled in the standard 9. The shaft 19 is provided with a' helical gear 23 meshinug with a similar helical gear 22on an inclined shaft- 24 supported by the standard 9. The inclined shaft 24 is provided with a socket 26 of the same cross-section as the shaft 15, so that the latter shaft may be operatively connected with said shaft 24. When it is desired to shift the basket from either of its operative positions- (that is, the positions for washing and wringing) to the other, the basket is lifted so as to disengage the shaft 15 from the socket 14 or 26 whereupon the basket and the shaft-15 secured thereto are tilted about the horizontal axis 16 of the trunnion 16 to a position withthe shaft 15 1n alignment with the desired socket after whichmthe basket is lowered ato cause the clutching of the shaft 15 with the socket. The' shaft 15 may thus be operatively connected either with the socket 26 to be driven about an axis at anl acute angle to the vertical at a relatively slow speed for washing or with the socket 14 to be driven about an upright axis at a relatively high i speed for drying. In the device shown the basketis rotated in a single direction during the washing operation, but by suitable mechanism (not shown) the basket may be oscillated or reciprocated about its axis during the washing operation.

When the basket is in the washing position it dips intp the washing or cleansing fluid as shown in Fig. 1, its axis of rotation being inclined or at an acute angle to the vertical.A The basket is provided with vanes or wings 3 which serve, upon the rotation of the basket during the washing operation, to repeatedly move the clothes through and lift the same out of the washing liquid and thereupon to permit them to fall or drop back into the washing liquid, the clothes being agitated by a tumbling action. During the drying operation the basket 3 as shown in Fig. 2 is arranged entirely above the water or other cleansing liquid in the tank 1, the moisture being extracted from the material in the basket by centrifugal action.

For eliminating the above mentioned objectionable effects of the shocks from the tumbling clothes and of the vibration resulting from unbalanced condition of the basket, I provide a shock eliminatingsupport upon which the tank or container is yieldably supported. This support, as shown,comprises a spider28, the arms of which are secured to'the bottom 7 of the tank or casing 1, as by brackets 29. The

.hub or central part of the spider has a universal or ball and socket connection 30 with a supporting base 31. The base may be formed with a number of legs arranged to rest on the floor. As shown the base has the same number of legs as the spider has arms.

The tank or container 1 is thus supported for universal movement at a single point 30 below the bottom thereof and in line with the axis of rotation o the shaft 6. To the brackets 29 are conne 'ted the upper ends of spiral tension springs 32, the lower ends of which are adjustably attached to the legs of the base by means of bolts 33 Vpassing through thea legs and having nuts on their lower ends bearing against the under side of the legs. The springs 32 serve to yieldingly hold the tank or container 1 and the parts connected thereto in proper relation to the base 31. By adjustment of the tension of the said springs by means of the bolts 33,

the resistance of the springs'32 to the'movement ofthe tank 1 with respectto the base may be varied to rovide for the varying loads in the machlne and also to equalize the tension of the springs.

While the shocks or blows resulting from the dropping of the clothes or other material durlng the washing operation are transmitted to the casing 1, the latter is -yieldable with respect to the base 3,1, and

`theshocks or blows are absorbed or eliminated so as notto cause an objectionablel pounding or movement of the machine on the floor. In the wringing operation the r rapidly rotating basket and the tank 1 are movable laterally about the jpint 30-and there is no objectionable vibration'of the base 31 due to unbalanced condition of the rotating basket, the tank or lcontainer being permitted to have a. balancing circulatory or gyratory movement very much like the movement of a spinning'top. During this movement of the v`tank relatively to the base, the belt tightener moves automatically to maintain an effective driving connection between the motor (which, as shown, is carried by the base 31) and the mechanism carried by the tank. y

It is to be understood that this invention isy not limited to the type of machine described above and that the embodiment of the invention described is merely illustrative. The inventionbis capable of embodiment in other forms and may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of ourlinvention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. The combination of a casing adapted to hold cleansing liquid, means within said casingffor repeatedly lifting 'the materials to` be cleansed out'of and allowing the same to drop into the cleansing liquid, and a shock absorbing support for said casing including a base having a connection with the casing allowing universal tilting movement of the casing with respect to said base.

2. The combination of a casing adapted to hold cleansing liquid, a perforated basket rotatable about aninclined axis and arranged within said casing for repeatedly lifting the materials to be cleansed out of and allowing the same tov drop into the cleansing liquid, a support for said casing including a base having a universally jointedl connection with said casing arranged axially below the latter,

and springs arranged about said connection and tending to hold said casing in a definite position relative to said ase. f'

3. In a washing machine, the combination of a basket forv the l,material'to be washed, means for rotating the same about an axis at an acute an le to the vertical, a base, and shock absor ing meanssupporting said basket from said base and including a universally jointed connection and shock absorbing' springs between said basket and` base. c

4. The combination of a to hold cleansing fluid, a'L-rbtating. supportng element for materiallto'f-be fcleansedjor '.dried arranged withinfs casing, and a a connectie support for said casingand aid supportingr element havin i :ing allowing tilting movemen [of the latter h said cascasing adapted A relatively to said support, and means tending to `yieldingly hold said casing in a definite position with respect to said sup port.

5. The combination of a casing adapted to hold cleansing" liquid, cleansing mechanism in said casing adapted to move the material to be cleansed in the Vcleansing liquid, and a shock absorbing supportfor said casing comprising a base on which t-he casing has a bearing permitting universal tiltingmovement of the casing relatively to said support.

`6. The combination of a casing adapted `to hold cleansing\. liquid, cleansing mechcomprising a base on which the casing has a. bearing permitting tilting movement ot the casing relatively to said support, and adjustable spiral tension springs coacting with said support and tending to yieldin ly hold said casing` in la definite position with respect to said base. y,

7. The' combination of a casing, washing and drying mechanism Within said casing including a clothes `container mounted for rotation about an axis at an angle to the horizontal, and a stabilizing support for saidrcasing comprising a splder havingy a plurality of radial arms, a base on-which the central part of said spider has a universal joint bearing and a series of springs congecting said casing with fixed parts of said ase. f

8. 'The combination of a casing adapted to holdfa. cleansing liquid, means for moving the material to be cleansed in the cleansing liquid and for rotating the material for wrmgmg or drying, and shock absorbing supporting means for said casing including a base upon which said casing is yieldably supported to permit universal tilting movement.

9. The combination of a casing adapted to hold cleansing liquid, washing mechanism in. operative relation to said casing, the said mechanism being mountedfor rotation within the casing, withits axis of rotation inclined to the horizontal, a d yielding shock absorbing supporting mea s for said casin'g to permit tiltingthereot in all directions.

' 10.` The 'combination/ of washing mech? anism, shock absorbing supporting means therefor including a baseupon which said mechanism is yieldably supported and a motor supported by said base and yieldably connected with s'aid mechanism to drive the same while permitting tilting" movement oi' said mechanism 'relatively to said baser."

11. The L combination of washing mechanism producing vertical shocks at a position to one side of the vertical axis thereof, a support for said mechanism to permit tilting thereof in all directions including a base having a universally jointed connection with said mechanism arranged below the latter at the axis thereof, and yielding means arranged about Said connection and position relative to said base.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this sp MORRIS F. JONES.

eciication.

CHARLES A. XARDELL. 

